Myeloma Survivor, Advocate, and… Disruptor!
Kent Oliver supports the transformative potential of the IMF’s innovative Myeloma Knowledge Platform
By Sylvia Dsouza, IMF Vice President, Development
Oliver, a longstanding donor, resilient myeloma survivor, advocate, and strong voice for all myeloma patients and care partners, boldly said that he would like to be a “disruptor.” During late summer in his hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Kent shared his modus operandi at a meeting with me and with Yelak Biru (IMF President & CEO). Kent’s call for action was heard by the IMF team.
Kent has proven his dedication to serving the myeloma community. Diagnosed with myeloma in 2015 at the age of 34, Kent’s journey has been marked by his compassion and generosity. Hattiesburg has been home to Kent, his wife Candace, and their daughters Annie (11) and Charlotte (8) for their entire lives. They are deeply woven into the community fabric, feeling a strong sense of belonging and connection to their neighbors.
The Olivers have chosen the path of giving back, with Kent leading this charge. For eight consecutive years, he has organized a peer-to-peer fundraiser in Hattiesburg called “Laughs 4 Life” to support the IMF and other organizations working toward making life better for myeloma patients. For the IMF alone, Kent’s “Laughs 4 Life” event has funded four Senior Brian D. Novis (BDN) Grants totaling more than $320,000. Established in 1995 to honor one of the IMF’s co-founders, these grants are awarded annually to Senior and Junior investigators to expand research in the field of myeloma and to improve patient outcomes.
But in the spirit of a true disruptor, Kent considered his fundraising feats and asked, “How can I do more?” For Kent, that “more” had to be transformative. It had to apply his philanthropic vision and passion to find a cure for myeloma and a better quality of life for patients. It had to challenge the status quo of systems, services, and existing processes for the myeloma community.
Kent has a keen understanding of technology, so when Yelak Biru shared the IMF’s strategy for the future tied to a new initiative called the Myeloma Knowledge Platform (MKP), Kent saw the value in the digitization of patients’ access to information and the enhanced interconnectivity between patients and their treatment teams.
A dialogue flourished between Yelak and Kent. Yelak shared his vision for the improvement of patients’ lives. He explained how the IMF wishes to “expedite the ‘time to hope’ from the initial diagnosis of myeloma. This ‘time’ encompasses the crucial moments when patients must educate themselves, forge meaningful connections, and navigate the myriad treatment options to find what best suits their needs. This remarkable journey is moving from the time of shock when first diagnosed to the time of hope by embracing and living fulfilling and purposeful lives.”
Yelak continued that the MKP could do just this: “accelerate the time to hope.” He described MKP as a comprehensive patient and myeloma community platform poised to disrupt the way patients’ needs are met and supported throughout their myeloma journey. Yelak went on to explain that the IMF was seeking funders to see the MKP through launch.
With this, Kent found a disruptive action he could stand behind. He said, “This is an opportunity that I cannot pass up, or I’ll live to regret it.” The IMF is grateful for Kent’s determination to give and to disrupt. Thanks to his support of the MKP team, the progress of the MKP is underway, with a soft launch scheduled for the summer of 2024.
Kent’s commitment to this cause will fund resources needed to accelerate the next phase of the MKP’s development while also igniting the collective spirit of the myeloma community. His philanthropic investment is significant and transformative for the future of myeloma research and patient support. Kent’s willingness to help the IMF prioritize the MKP project shows that he knows what it takes to revolutionize patient care and treatment efforts. We at the IMF are inspired, and we hope you are too. MT
YOU can play an integral part in the fight against myeloma by becoming our philanthropic partner and supporting the IMF’s four founding pillars: Research, Education, Support, and Advocacy. Contact Sylvia Dsouza at [email protected] if you’re interested in discussing major gifts, planned giving, stocks, IRAs, or bequests. To make a direct donation to the IMF, please go to donate.myeloma.org.
(This article was published in the 2024 Winter Edition of the IMF's quarterly publication, Myeloma Today. Read the full publication here.)